Nick Blakey has become the central figure of the AFL Trade Period with news emerging five clubs are in the mix for the Sydney defender.
The 2024 All-Australian’s future has been thrown into doubt as rumours swirl he is frustrated with the club and wants to leave.
Blakey was one of five players stood down by the Swans in August for breaching club standards, along with Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordon and Riley Bice.
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Heeney, Warner, Blakey and Jordon are the subject of an ongoing police investigation in connection with reports of sexual assault made by three women in relation to an alleged incident inside a Pullman Hotel room.
Bice has been cleared by police of any criminal conduct.
No charges have been laid.
In a very separate matter, Blakey has taken another step towards the exit sign with reports he has flown to Melbourne to meet with clubs to discuss potential trade scenarios.
The 26-year-old has another five years remaining on his contract, which is reportedly worth more than $1 million per season.
Despite being locked down contractually, the fullback reportedly has the eye of five rival clubs.
Further details about interest from North Melbourne and Gold Coast emerged on Wednesday night after it was earlier reported Essendon, St Kilda and Geelong have shown interest.
Football journalist Cal Twomey on Wednesday said the Cats were at the front of the queue and football journalist Tom Morris said the footballer will meet with Geelong officials this week.
However, Morris reports the Swans do not want to open talks with the Cats because the Victorian club does not have assets to broker a deal.
Geelong are also a potential premiership threat at a time when both clubs are considered to be in the premiership window.
Geelong has already given up draft capital in the form of a 2027 first round pick and a 2028 second round pick to secure Jordan Ridley from Essendon. The club are also pursuing St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall and have been unable to broker a deal.
In a hammer blow to the Cats, it was suggested on Wednesday night, Blakey would be worth three first round picks.
Lions legend and former Carlton coach Michael Voss said on AFL Trade Radio on Wednesday: “If I’m looking at Nick Blakey and I’m thinking just pure cost. Everything else aside. A five-year contract. That’s starting to venture into three first round picks category for him to be able to move.
“What have Geelong got to be able to satisfy that?”
Swans head of list strategy Chris Keane said this week the club had received no indication from Blakey or his management that he wanted to leave and expected him to return in 2027.
While Geelong is at the front of the queue, the Kangaroos, Bombers, Saints and Suns all have their own selling points.
The Bombers have the most salary cap space and draft picks to entice the Swans into cutting a deal.
Blakey’s former mentor at the Swans, John Longmire, has moved to the Bombers in a football department overseer role. New Essendon coach Mark McVeigh also worked with Blakey as Longmire’s assistant coach for three years.
North Melbourne also has the connection of Blakey’s dad John played 224 games for the club.
Kangaroos recruitment boss Brady Rawlings earlier declared the club will get involved if Blakey seeks a move.
“I’d hope we’d be an option for him if he decided that he really wanted a trade,” Rawlings said on AFL Trade Radio.
“The big thing here is Sydney and what they’re prepared to do if a request comes. That hasn’t been the case at this stage. We’re really not considering that as an option given there hasn’t been a trade request.
“If a trade request comes, no doubt we’ll be trying to get involved.
Morris reported on Wednesday the Suns would not be prepared to give up the likely compensation pick (Pick 7) the club will receive for losing Ben King.
Blakey explored a potential move to the Suns at the end of 2025, due to his partner, Olympic sprinter Ella Connolly, relocating to Queensland.
However, the Suns’ appear to view any asking price would be too high for them to actively pursue.
The Saints, meanwhile, still have the club’s first-round pick, (Pick 8), in next month’s draft, allowing them to cut the Cats’ lunch if Geelong are unable to find the picks necessary to appease the Swans.
Originally published as Sydney Swans defender Nick Blakey’s trade saga out of control